Method and means for use in the manufacture of shoes



April 6, 1937. c. F. PYM

METHOD AND MEANS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed June 13, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l 336 Q V I 0 12;; 46 3 I I I 1% I if t] I48 40 0/7471 1.0 B P M) April 6, 1937. c. F. PYM 2,075,908

METHOD AND MEANS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed June 15, 1935 432 6 gr? g0 152, 250 r 11 4:700 0 20g 28 #6 134 200 48 I L 9 a a ,1

, a a 132 {3g {66 I7 -*/44 6 Q $32650 69 00 70 0 i w g 6 76 64 76 :f L L 56 66 g lfz 5152i} 182 74 J r 36 fl UR 5 144 79-0 L 1.6 38 H1 T 213 1 B 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 6, 1937. c. F. PYM 2,075,908

METHOD AND MEANS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed June 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet s- April 6, 1937. c. F. PYM 2,075,908

METHOD AND MEANS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed June 13, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MEANS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Application June 13, 1935, Serial No. 26,416

30 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and means for use in the manufacture of shoes, and more particularly to the application of pressure to the bottoms of shoes. In certain novel aspects the invention is especially applicable to the treatment of inseam materials in the manufacture of welt shoes, while in other aspects it has more particularly in view the pressing of the margins of uppers lying in lasted relation to insoles.

The invention, in one aspect, provides a novel method whereby the inseam materials of a welt shoe 1. e., the parts of the welt, upper and insole that are directly connected together by the inseam stitches, are subjected to heat and pressure before the outsole is placed on the shoe. Preferably, and as herein illustrated, the inseam materials along the sides of the forepart and shank portions of the shoe and around the toe end of the shoe are subjected to heat and to wiping pressure directed inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom, and in the wiping operation progressively increasing pressure is applied to the materials heightwise of the shoe. By thus treat ing the inseam materials with compacting pressure while subjecting them to the shrinking action of heat the bottom of the shoe is prepared better for the reception of the outsole in a position close to the upper and the insole. Furthermore, the inwardly directed wipe tends to counteract any distortion of the insole lip resulting from outward pull on the lip in the earlier lasting and welt-sewing operations.

In a further aspect, the invention provides novel means adapted for use in the practice of the above-described method and also adapted for use in applying pressure and heat to the margins of lasted uppers in aicordance with a frequent practice in the manufacture of some kinds of shoes. For the purpose in view there is provided a novel construction and arrangement of means conformable to the contours of the bottoms of shoes of different sizes or shapes for applying all around the forepart and along the sides of the shank portion of the shoe heat and pressure directed both heightwise of the shoe and inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom. In the construction shown there are provided heated pressing devices at the opposite sides of the shoe for engaging and pressing the inseam materials or the margin of a lasted upper along the opposite sides of the forepart and shank portions, each pressing device having a shoe-engaging member flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe, against the resistance of light springs, in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, and there is also a presser of resilient metal slidably mounted on these pressing devices and arranged to engage the inseam materials or the margin of the upper around the toe end of the shoe, the end-presser conforming to the contour of the shoe in response to the pressure of the shoe upon it and being heated by contact with the side-pressing devices. Preferably the construction is also such that the several shoe-engaging members support a, shoe placed thereon bottom downward. As illustrated, mechanism is provided for moving the side-pressing devices toward each other in directions inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom at the opposite sides of the shoe simultaneously and for moving the end-presser inwardly lengthwise of the shoe, in response to the resistance of the shoe, heavy spring means being provided for progressively increasing the pressure of the side-pressin devices and the end-presser on the shoe during their inward movements.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts and also the novel method aspects of the invention will now be more particularly set forth by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a View in front elevation of the upper right-hand portion of a machine adapted for use in the practice of the method and in which features of the invention are embodied, showing a lasted shoe in position in the machine;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the upper right-hand portion of the machine, but illustrating the positions of the parts with the shoe under pressure;

Fig. 3 is a view of the upper right-hand portion of the machine in end elevation with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the shoe-pressing members and parts associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the relation of the parts to the shoe just prior to the wiping operation;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View showing the positions of the parts with the shoe under pressure at the end of the wiping operation;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View showing the side-pressing members in their initial relation to the inseam materials of a welt shoe;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 illustrating the positions of the parts with the inseam materials under pressure at the end of the wiping operation;

Fig. 9 is a View partly in section and partly in side elevation showing the relation of the endpresser to a welt shoe just prior to the wiping operation; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the condition of the bottom of a welt shoe after it has been operated upon by the machine.

This invention in its machine aspects is illustrated as applied to a machine organization which is in many respects similar to that illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,549,243, granted on August 11, 1925, upon an application filed in the name of E. E. Winkley, with portions of the machine: constructed as disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,951,373, granted on March. 20, 1934, upon an application filed in the name of Charles F. Pym, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to organizations of that particular character. Machines: of the type illustrated in said Letters Patent No. 1,549,243 are twin machines comprising two sets of mechanisms whereby one shoe is subjected to pressure simultaneously with the release from pressure of another shoe previously operated upon. Only one of the two sets of mechanisms is herein illustrated or need be referred to for an understanding of the present invention. As more fully illustrated in the above-mentioned Letters Patent No. 1,549,243, the machine is provided with a pair of vertical rods 20 (Fig. 3) which support adjustably near their upper ends a crosshead (not shown). In this crosshead there are adjustably secured a toe post 22 and a heel post 24 which serve to support the shoe against upwardly directed pressure applied on its bottom face. The toe post 22 has a rubber-covered roll 26 thereon for engaging the shoe or last on the top of the forepart, and the heel post is provided with a plate 28 arranged to engage the top face of the heel-end portion of the last, the plate 28 being mounted on a block 30 pivotally connected at 32 to the heel post and arranged to be swung about its pivot by an adjustable screw 34 against the action of a flat spring 36 to adjust the plate 28 so that it will bear evenly on the top face of the last, as more fully disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 1,951,373 referred to above.

Mounted on the rods 20 is a slide 38 to which upward and downward movements are imparted through a link 40 (Fig. 1) connected at 42 to the slide and other mechanism not herein shown in detail, since it is fully disclosed in the Letters Patent No. 1,549,243 above mentioned. The slide 38 supports a box 44 provided with a pair of trunnions one of which is indicated at 46 (Fig. 1) mounted in bearings on the slide so that the box may tip about an axis extending laterally of the shoe, the box being held normally in a predetermined position, determined by a springpressed plunger 48 carried by the box and engaging the slide, by a spring 50 connecting the slide and the box.

Vertically movable in the box 44 is a casting 52 supported by four springs 54, one of which is shown in Fig. 1, which are yieldable in response to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied. Mounted in guideways on the casting -52 for movements in directions widthwise of the shoe is a slide 55 which is adjustable along the guideways by means of a screw 58 held against lengthwise movement by a lug 60 fast on the casting Mounted in guideways on the slide 56 for movements in directions lengthwise of the shoe is a slide 62 (Fig. 1) which is adjustable along the guideways by means of a screw 64 held against lengthwise movement relatively to the slide 62 by a plate 66 fast on the slide 62, the screw being threaded in a lug on the slide 56 and having a hand wheel 70 thereon for turning it. The slide 62 serves as a support for four brackets I2, two of which are located opposite each other near the toe end of the shoe and the other two of which are located opposite each other near the heel end of the shoe.

The brackets I2 are connected to corresponding blocks 74 (Fig. 3) which are movable in directions widthwise of the shoe in recesses in the slide 62 in the same manner as in the machine of Letters Patent No. 1,951,373 above referred to, the connections being such as to permit each bracket I2 while movable widthwise of the shoe with its connected block to swing about a vertical axis. The means for adjusting the blocks and with them the brackets 12 laterally of the shoe is not shown herein in detail since it is fully shown and disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,951,373 above mentioned. The two blocks mounted near the toe end of the shoe are connected by a shaft 16 which is mounted in bearings in the slide 62 and has rightand left-hand threads thereon engaging the blocks and a hand wheel I8 secured to its outer end for turning it to adjust the blocks toward or from each other. The two blocks near the heel end of the shoe are connected by a shaft (Figs. 1 and 2) also mounted in bearings on the slide 62 and provided with rightand left-hand threads engaging the blocks. The shafts I6 and 80 are turned simultaneously by the hand wheel 18 through connections including pinions 82, 84 (Fig. 1) secured respectively to the shafts I6, 89 and engaging a rack bar supported on the slide 62.

Connected by parallel links 88, 90 to each of the brackets I2 (Fig. 3) is an angularly shaped holder 92 and each pair of similarly arranged holders serve to support a metal block 94 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8). The blocks 94 are positioned and secured on the holders 92 by dowel pins 96 which project upwardly into recesses formed in the blocks and by spring-controlled plungers 98 (Fig. 3) which are movably mounted in the holders 92 and which may be withdrawn from recesses formed in the sides of the blocks by handles I00 to permit the blocks to be lifted from the holders.

Mounted on each metal block 94 is one of a pair of shoe-pressing or ironing devices comprising a rigid plate I02 which is maintained in proper lateral position by a tongue and groove connection I04 with its supporting block 94 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) and is held in proper lengthwise position by a dowel pin I06 which projects from the block 94 into a recess in the plate. The upper surface of each plate I02 is shaped to conform approximately to the lengthwise curvature of the bottom of a shoe upon which the machine is to operate and mounted in each plate I02 are a plurality of light coiled springs I98 (Figs. 1 and 4) for supporting a presser II 0 of flexible resilient metal. Each presser is shaped similarly to the upper surface of its associated plate I02 and has the inner edge face of its shoe-engaging portion shaped in substantial conformity to the edge curvature of the shoe bottom. The inner edge faces of the pressers IIO that operate upon the opposite sides of the shoe bottom are shaped differently from each other, as shown in Fig. 4, the pressers preferably being formed in pairs to operate upon right and left shoes in the opposite halves of the machine. At its heel end each presser II 0 is held against movement laterally of the plate I02 by downwardly extending portions I I2 embracing the plate and provided each with a slot H4 through which extends a screw H6 threaded into the block 94 (Figs. 1 and 2). For supporting each presser against lateral movement at the shank and toe end are clamps H8 and I29, the clamp I I8 being secured to the plate I82 by a screw I22 and extending upwardly in engagement with the outer edge face of the presser, and the clamp I28 being secured to the block 94 by a screw I24 and extending upwardly in engagement with a downturned portion I26 of the presser, the screw I24 extending through a slot I28 in the portion I28 (Figs. 1 and 5). It will be understood from the above description that the pressers III! are supported in spaced relation to the plates I82 by the springs I88 with the screws H6, I24 engaging the downturned portions H2 and I26 of the presser at the lower ends of the slots H4 and I28, respectively, and that the plates I82 are movable heightwiseof the shoe relatively to the pressers against the'resistance of the springs I08, the springs I88 acting to force the shoe-engaging portions of the flexible pressers into conformity to the contour of the shoe bottom and to assist in rendering them effective to apply the desired amount of pressure to the shoe.

Each parallel link 88 has an extension I38 (Fig. 3) provided with a slot through which extends a rod I32 pivoted at its lower end to the bracket "I2 and encircling this rod is a heavy compression spring I34 which bears at its lower end against a washer I38 that rests against the extension I39 and at its upper end on a wing nut I38 threaded on the rod. The springs I34 by their actions on the links 88 thus tend to maintain the holders 92 in elevated positions with the outer side faces of the holders against the upwardly extending portions of the brackets 32. It will be understood that the ironing devices may be adjusted toward or from each other by means of the hand wheel I8 to accommodate shoes of different sizes and in order to take care of variations in widths between the foreparts and heel ends of shoes of different sizes the shaft I6 may be and preferably is provided with threads of steeper pitch than the threads on the shaft 89 so that greater movements toward or from each other are imparted to the portions of the ironing devices that are nearer the toe end of the shoe than to the portions near the heel end by the same movement of the hand wheel 18.

Secured to the casting 52 by screws I49, one of which is shown in Fig. 1, is a plate I42 for supporting a bracket I44 to which there is pivotally connected at I48 a bell-crank lever I48 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). Adjustably secured to the upwardly extending arm I58 of the bell-crank lever I48 are upwardly extending members I52 and pivotally connected to the upper ends of the members I52 by trunnions I54 is a block I56. Extending loosely through an opening in the block I56 is an adjustable rod I58 to which there is pivotally connected a block I88 which acts as a support for the outer end portion of an end-presser I62 of flexible resilient metal. The end-presser is fastened to the block I89 with its end face in engagement with a shoulder I84 on the block by a screw I88. The end-presser, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, is formed with an inner edge face shaped to conform approximately to the contour of the toe end of the shoe and extends rearwardly between the side pressers H9 and thin flexible plates I88 interposed between the side pressers H9 and the springs I88 (Fig. 5). The inner edge face of each plate I68 is shaped to conform to the contour of the edge face of its associated side presser and the end portion of each plate I68 extends downwardly and is fastened by a bolt I78 and washer I12 to an L-shaped strap I'I4 which is secured to the clamp I29 by the screw I24 and a screw I16 threaded into the clamp I20. (Figs. 2, 3 and 5). The bell-crank lever I48 has an inwardly extending arm I18 and pivotally connected to this arm is a rod I89 which extends downwardly through an opening in a U-shaped bracket I82 fast to the plate I42. Surrounding the rod I80 between the bracket I82 and a ball-washer I84 engaging the end of the arm H8 is a spring I86 which acts to swing the bell-crank lever I48 in a direction to hold the arm II8 in engagement with a plate I88 carried by the blocks 84 (Figs. 1 and 2). Threaded on the end of the rod I88 is a nut I98 which acts to limit upward movement of the rod under the influence of the spring I86 by en.- gagement with a portion of the bracket I82, as shown in Fig. l. The plate I88 is secured to the blocks 94 by screws I92, I94 (Fig. 3), the screw I94 extending through a slot I98 in the plate to permit movement of the blocks 94 toward or from each other widthwise of the shoe, as more particularly hereinafter explained. As shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 5 and 9, the block I99 for supporting the end-presser I82 has a portion I98 which extends rearwardly between the blocks 94 and rests on a pin 289 extending upwardly from the plate I88, the blocks 94 being recessed to prevent interference between the blocks and the rearwardly extending portion I98 in the movement of the blocks toward each other widthwise of the shoe. The upper surface of the block I69 to which the end-presser I82 is secured by the screw I88 is inclined so that the end-presserIBZ is supported at the proper angle to permit it to move relatively to the side pressers inwardly over the bottom of the shoe at the toe end. The spring i88 acts through the bell-crank lever I48 and the rod I58 to hold the end-presser I82 in its outermost position. To accommodate shoes 2 of different sizes the position of the end-presser I82 relatively to the side pressers I49 lengthwise of the shoe may be varied by adjustment of the rod I58 relatively to the block I88, nuts I99 threaded on the rod and engaging the opposite end faces of the block being provided for holding the end-presser and the rod in adjusted position.

It will be understood that when the machine is initially at rest the springs I34 act on the links 88 to present the pressers I I8 and the end-presser I82 in upraised positions. As thus presented the pressers are arranged to receive and support a shoe placed thereon bottom downward, and preferably the pressers are so adjusted relatively to one another that they will engage the bottom face of the shoe along the sides and around the toe end of the shoe.

When the pressure is applied to the bottom of the shoe by the flexible pressers H9 and I82 in the upward movement of the slide 38 after the shoe has been moved into engagement with the members 28 and 28, the resistance of the shoe to the upward movement of the pressers causes first a relative movement of the pressers and the blocks 94 against the resistance of the light springs I88 until the flexible pressers have been conformed to the contour of the shoe bottom, after which as the combined resistance of the light springs I88 overcomes the resistance of the heavier springs I34 the parallel links 88, 98 are swung from their initial positions into positions such as indicated in Fig. 3, thus moving the pressers IIO bodily inward over the shoe bottom in response to the pressure of the shoe on the pressers. As the holders 92 are moved relatively to the brackets I2 by the swinging of the parallel links 88, 98 into the positions shown in Fig. 3, the plate I 88, carried by the blocks 94 supported by the holders, acts on the arm I18 to impart to the bell-crank lever I48 against the resistance of the spring I86 an inward swinging movement to force the flexible end-presser I62 bodily inward. It will be seen that as the endpresser is moved inwardly at the toe end it is guided in its inward movement by the side pressers H and is supported at its outer end against the downward thrust of the rod I58 by the block I60 which rests on the pin 200. It will also be seen that the inward movements of the sidepressers IIO are effected against the increasing resistance of the springs I34. As the resistance of the springs I34 is increased the rigid plates I02 are moved heightwise of the shoe relatively to the pressers and accordingly act through the springs I08 progressively to increase the pressure of the pressers H0 and I62 on the shoe bottom. The swinging of the parallel links 88, 90, and the bell-crank lever I48 is limited by engagement of the lower faces of the holders 92 with the brackets 72 after which still greater pressure is applied to the shoe through the springs 54. It will be understood that by adjustment of the nuts I38 the initial compression of the diiTerent springs I34 may be varied so as to vary the amount of pressure applied to the shoe by the pressers H0 and I62 during their inward movements.

The machine is further provided with means for maintaining the shoe-pressing members IIO, I62 in a heated condition. For this purpose there is mounted in a recess in each end of each block 94 an electrical heating unit 20I and from the four units in each set of ironing devices electrical conductors 282 lead to any convenient source of electrical energy for heating them. From the blocks 94 the heat is conducted to the pressers I I0, mounted thereon and from the pressers H0 and flexible plates I68 to the end-presser I62.

In order to avoid any possibility of outward drag of the pressers I I8 and I62 on the shoe bottom in the return of the parts to their starting positions, the illustrated machine is further provided with means which is substantially the same as that shown in Letters Patent No. 1,951,373 above mentioned for preventing the pressers IIO, I62 from moving outwardly until after the shoe has been substantially released from pressure. Mounted adjacent to each pair of holders 92 and arranged to engage projections 204 (Fig. 3) on these holders, when the parts are in the positions that they assume at the end of the pressure-applying operation, is a latch 206 (Figs. 1 and 2) which acts to prevent the holders from being returned to their starting positions by the parallel links 88, 90 and the springs I34 until after the slide 38 and the parts supported thereon have been moved downwardly far enough to release the shoe from pressure. Each latch 206 is fast on a rockshaft 208 supported in bearings on an end of the slide 62 and is connected to a spring 2 I!) (Fig. 1) which tends to swing it into operative relation to the projections 204. Fast on the end of each rockshaft is an arm 2I2 (Fig. 3) pivotally connected at 2I3 to the outer end of which is an upwardly extending rod 2I4 which passes loosely through an opening in a block'2I6 fast-on one of the rods 20. A nut 2 I8 on the upper end of each rod 2I4 is arranged to cooperate with the block 2I6 to hold the latch 206 in an idle position when the slide 38 and the parts supported thereon are in their lowermost positions. When the slide 38 is moved upwardly to apply pressure to the shoe the nuts 2I8 are released from control of the block 2I6 thus permitting the springs 2I0 to swing the latches 206 into positions to catch on the projections 204 as soon as the holders 92 are lowered far enough relatively to the brackets 12 to carry these projections below the latches. In the return of the parts to starting positions the nuts 2 I8 do not arrive in positions to engage the blocks 2I6 until the slide 38 has been lowered far enough to carry the shoe away from the shoe supporting members 26 and 28 so that the latches remain in positions such as to prevent the upward and outward swinging movements of the holders 92 until after the shoe has been released from pressure. Thereafter the block 2 I6 acts on the nuts 2 I 8 to cause the latches 206 to swing outwardly and release the holders 92 whereupon the latter are returned to their starting positions by the springs I34. It will be understood that as the holders 92 are returned to their starting positions by the springs I 34, the plate I88 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 thereby permitting the spring I88 to act on the arm I18 to impart to the bell-crank lever I48 an outward swinging movement to return the end-presser I62 to its starting position.

When the shoe is placed on the pressing members H0 and I62 by the operator the contour of the members I I8 conforming substantially to the lengthwise curvature of the shoe bottom afiords a sufiicient indication of the proper lengthwise position of the shoe. To determine the proper lateral position of the shoe the machine herein shown is further provided with gaging means, substantially like that disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,951,373 referred to above, comprising gages located at the opposite sides of the forepart of the shoe and other gages located at the opposite sides of its heel end. Each of the forepart gages comprises a metal plate 220 bent into the shape illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 and pivoted on studs 222 on a supporting block 224 so that the plate is free to turn about a vertical axis to adjust itself to the contour of the shoe. Fast on the plate 220 is a piece of soft material 226 such as leather or rubber arranged to contact with the shoe. The block 224 is swiveled on the end of a screw 228 which is threaded in an upright supporting arm 230 (Fig. 3) and the plate 228 overlaps a plate on the upper end of the arm to prevent the plate 220 from turning about a horizontal axis. The two arms 230 are adjustable toward or from each other by means of a screw 232 in the same manner as in the machine of the prior Letters Patent No. 1,951,373 above mentioned. It will thus be seen that the two gages are adjustable simultaneously toward or from each other by means of the screw 232 and are also adjustable each independently of the other by the screws 228 for properly positioning shoes of different sizes and styles. The gages at the heel end of the shoe comprise arms 234, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, mounted on a block 236 for swinging movements toward or from each other at the opposite sides of the heel end of the shoe, these arms being connected by gear teeth (not shown) to swing in unison, each arm having a leather cover 238 thereon to contact with the .shoe. The two arms 234 are adjustable toward or from each other by a shaft 240 having right and left threads in engagement with blocks 242 that are swiveled on the outer ends of the respective arms, the shaft having a knurled head 244 thereon for turning it. The supporting block 236 is pivoted at 246 on a standard 248 which is mounted on the casting 52 so that the arms 234 may be swung out of operative position to facilitate removal of the pressing members I I8. A spring 258 connected to one of the arms 234 and to the standard 248 holds the arms normally in operative position, the arrangement of this spring in relation to the axis 248 being such that it will also maintain the arms in inoperative position when they 5 are swung to that position.

In order to insure the application of adequate ironing pressure on an upwardly sloping portion of the shoe bottom immediately at the rear of the ball of the shoe by the pressers H8 it is contemplated that the roll 26, as illustrated, will be so adjusted as to engage the shoe or last on its upwardly inclined top face at the rear of the toe and thus effect somewhat of a rearward displacement of the shoe as the pressure is applied 2 so as to force it hard against the corresponding portions of the ironing members. It will be evident that the plate 28 engaging the top of the heel end of the last does not prevent such rearward movement of the shoe and that by reason of the inclination of the slots H4 and I28 formed in the downwardly extending portions II2, I28 of the pressers I Ill, the pressure is applied in the upward movement of the blocks 94 to the upwardly sloping portion of the shoe bottom at the rear of the ball line in directions substantially parallel to the axes of the springs I88 that engage the pressers H0 in that location. In

order that the pressers HI! will conform readily to the transverse curvature of the shoe bottom, particularly in locations where they engage the rounded outer edge portion of the shank of the shoe, the shank-pressing portion of each presser has extending inwardly from its outer face a.

plurality ofslits 252 (Fig. 4) which divide this portion of the presser into a series of fingers 254, the outer edge portions of which are clamped between thin metallic strips 256 riveted to the pressers. By reason of this construction the pressers are rendered sufficiently flexible to permit them to conform readily to the transverse curvatures of the shank portions of different shoes.

.In the operation of the machine for pressing and ironing the bottoms of shoes of the type illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the marginal portion of the upper is lasted inwardly over an insole in generally parallel relation to the shoe bottom and secured in lasted position around the forepart and along the shank portions of the G0 shoe bottom preferably although not necessarily by an adhesive and in which an outsole is thereafter to be secured, preferably by cement, to the lasted margin of the upper, after the pressers I I B and H32 have been adjusted properly for the size of the shoe to be operated upon and have been heated to the desired temperature, the operator places the proper shoe, a right or a left, bottom downward upon that set of pressers which is in its lowermost position in the machine. The opcrater then locates the shoe lengthwise in the machine by the pressers H8 and laterally of the machine by adjustment of the gages 228 and 238, after which the power operation of the machine is started, whereupon the slide 38 at that side of 75 the machine where the shoe was placed is elevated and the slide at the other side is lowered. The shoe is accordingly raised until stopped by the abutments 2B and 28, and when this occurs the pressure of the bottom of the shoe against the flexible pressers IIO, I62 causes some at least of the springs I98 to yield until the portions of the pressers extending inwardly over the shoe bottom have been conformed to the contour of the shoe bottom. Thereafter, as the pressers are forced more firmly against the bottom of the shoe, the combined resistances of the springs I98 overcome the resistance of the heavier springs :34 and the links 88, 98 are swung from their initial positions into the positions indicated in Fig. 3 as the supporting brackets I2 continue their upward movements. The pressers I ID are thus forced inwardly over the shoe bottom in wiping engagement with the marginal portion of the upper along the sides of the forepart and. shank portions of the shoe, the end-presser I82 being forced simultaneously inward with the pressers I i 9 in wiping engagement with the margin of the upper at the toe end by the action of the plate I88 on the arm I18 to swing the bellcrank lever I48 from the position shown in Fig. l

to the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the inward movements of the pres sers I I8 and E82 occur against the increasing resistance of the springs I34 which act to impart to the springs I88 by upward movement of the rigid plates I92 a further movement of compression whereby the upper is subjected to progressively increasing pressure during the inward movements of the pressers. The pressers III and M52, as they move inwardly over the shoe bottom, thus tend to draw the upper around the entire forepart and along the opposite sides of the shank portion of the shoe inwardly over the insole as they apply progressively increasing pressure height-wise of the shoe and heat to the marginal portion of the upper to iron it fiat upon the insole and to smooth it free from wrinkles. The inward movement of the pressers is terminated by engagement of the holders 92 with the brackets 12 and thereafter the upper is subjected to further pressure through the springs 54 and the heavy toggle-controlling spring with which machines of this type are provided as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent No. 1,549.-'

243. In the pressing operation the roll 28 acts on the sloping face of the shoe or last to effect more or less of a rearward displacement of the shoe and the pressers IIIl thus insuring effective pressure on the margin of the upper along that portion of the shoe bottom which slopes rearwardly from the ball of the shoe. The machine comes automatically to a stop with the shoe under pressure and while the shoe is held under pressure the operator presents a shoe to the other half of the machine. As the slide 38 is thereafter lowered to release the shoe the latches 288 prevent upward and outward swinging movements of the holders 92 under the influence of the springs I34 until after the shoe has been carried downwardly away from the abutments 28, 28 and thus released from pressure, the bellcrank lever 148 being held against outward swinging movement under the influence of the spring I88 by reason of the engagement of the plate I88 with the arm "8. Near the end of the downward movement of the slide 38 the latches are operated to release the holders thus render-.

the shoe rests merely by its own weight on the pressers at this time there is no danger of displacement of the margin of the upper by the outward movement of the pressers.

In the operation of the machine for ironing the shoe inseam materials of welt shoes before the outsole is placed on the shoe the heated pressers I I0 and I62 in the upward movement of the slide 38,- after the shoe has been moved into engagement with the members 26 and 28, are conformed to the contour of the inseam in response to the resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied in the manner previously described. Thereafter the heated pressers are moved bodily inward over the shoe bottom in wiping engagement with the inseam materials in response to the swinging of the links 88, 99 and the bell-crank lever I 48 and as they are thus moved inwardly against the increasing resistance of the springs I34 their pressure on the inseam materials is progressively increased, as above described. By thus applying pressure directed both heightwise of the shoe and inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom to the inseam materials while subjecting them to the shrinking action of heat the inseam materials are flattened evenly and ironed smoothly on the shoe bottom thus preparing the shoe bottom better for the reception of the outsole in a position close to the upper and insole. Furthermore, the inwardly directed wipe tends to counteract any distortion of the inseam lip resulting from outward pull on the lip in the earlier lasting and welt-sewing operations.

Fig. 10 shows the bottom of a welt shoe as it appears after it has been operated upon by the machine. It will be understood that after the pressure has been applied to the shoe inseam materials by the machine very little filler is required to be applied to the shoe and that when the outsole is placed on the shoe bottom its margin will lie close to the upper.

The invention having been thus described, What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. That improvement in methods of making welt shoes which consists in securing a welt to a shoe and thereafter, before applying an outsole to the shoe, subjecting the inseam materials to pressure directly inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom and to heat to prepare the shoe for the reception of the outsole.

2. That improvement in methods of making welt shoes which consists in securing a welt to a shoe and thereafter, before applying an outsole to the shoe, subjecting the inseam materials to pressure and heat while also wiping the materials in a direction inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom.

3. That improvement in methods of making welt shoes which consists in subjecting the shoe inseam materials all around the forepart and along the sides of the shank portion of the shoe to heat and to pressure directed both heightwise of the shoe and inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom before the outsole is placed on the shoe to compress the inseam materials on the bottom of the shoe.

4. That improvement in methods of making welt shoes which consists in wiping the shoe inseam materials all around the forepart and along the sides of the shank portion of the shoe in a direction inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom before the outsole is placed on the shoe and in the wiping operation applying heat and progressively increasing pressure heightwise of the shoe to the inseam materials'to flatten them on the shoe bottom.

5. That improvement in methods of making:

welt shoes which consists in applying to the shoe inseam materials before the outsole is placed on the shoe a previously heated ironing tool and by" the use of said tool wiping the inseam materials sively increasing the pressure of said tool on thematerials heightwise of the shoe to flatten the materials on the shoe bottom.

7. That improvement in methods of making welt shoes which consists in applying to the shoe inseam materials all around the forepart and along the opposite sides of the shank portion of the shoe before the outsole is placed on the shoe previouslyheated ironing tools flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe and by the use of said tools wiping the inseam materials in a direction inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom while applying heat thereto to iron them smoothly upon the insole.

8. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of means flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe for applying pressure in directions inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom to the shoe inseam materials simultaneously all around the forepart and along the opposite sides of the shank portion of the shoe to compact said materials on the shoe bottom, and means for heating said pressing means.-

9. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, heated pressing means constructed and arranged to engage the shoe inseam materials, and means for moving said.

pressing means inwardly over the shoe bottom while applying progressively increasing pressure to the inseam materials heightwise of the shoe to compact said materials on the shoe bottom, said pressing means comprising different members each flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon.

10. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of.

welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of pressing means arranged to engage initially and press the shoe inseam materials substantially all around the forepart and along the opposite sides of the shank portion of the shoe, said pressing means comprising diiferent members of flexible resilient metal conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure'of the shoe thereon, and mechanism for effecting relative movement of said members and the shoe to Wipe the inseam materials in directions inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom.

11. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, the combination with means pporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of heated pressing means arranged to engage initially and press the shoe inseam materials, said pressing means comprising members at the opposite sides of the shoe arranged. to extend lengthwise of the shoe substantially from its toe to its heel-end portion and a member extending around an end of the shoe, said members each being flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, and mechanism for effecting relative movement of said members and the shoe to iron the inseam materials in directions inwardly from the edge of the shoe bot tom and for progressively increasing the pressure of said members on the inseam materials heightwise of the shoe during said relative movement.

12. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, pressing means comprising members arranged to engage the shoe inseam materials along the opposite sides of the forepart and shank portions and a member for engaging the inseam materials around the toe end of the shoe, said side and end members each being flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied, means for moving the end member inwardly over the bottom of the shoe, and means for moving the side members inwardly toward each other and for progressively increasing the pressure of all the members on the inseam materials during their inward movements.

13. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, pressing means constructed and arranged to engage the shoe inseam materials along the sides and around the toe end of the shoe, said pressing means comprising an end member movable lengthwise of the shoe and side members movable laterally of the shoe, said end and side mem. ers each being flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to relative movement of said members and the shoe to apply pressure to the inseam materials heightwise of the shoe, and means forimparting to said end and side members their movements lengthwise and laterally of the shoe in response to the pressure of the shoe on said memii'. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, the combination with means for supporting-a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of a plurality of heated pressers of flexible resilient metal arranged to engage the shoe inseam materials substantially all around the forepart and along the sides of the shank portion of the shoe, said pressers each being conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, spring means against the resistance of which the flexible pressers are thus conformable, and mechanism for moving the pressers relatively to the shoe to wipe the inseam materials in directions inwardly from the edge of the shoe'bottom.

15. In a machine forpressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of heated pressing members of flexible resilient metal for engaging the inseam materials at the opposite sides of the shoe bottom substantially from the toe to the heel-end portion of the shoe, a pressing member of flexible resilient metal for engaging the inseam materials around the toe end of the shoe, each of said end and side pressing members being flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, spring means against the resistance of which said pressing members are yieldable in response to the pressure of the shoe upon them, and mechanism for moving said pressing members relatively to the shoe in directions to wipe the inseam materials inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom and for progressively increasing the pressure of said pressing members on the inseam materials heightwise of the shoe through said spring means during their inward movements.

16. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure ap plied on its bottom face, of heated, pressing devices at the opposite sides of the shoe constructed and arranged to engage and press the inseam materials along the sides of the forepart and shank portions of the shoe, said devices each having an inseam-engaging member flexibly conformable to the contour of the inseam in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, mechanism for effecting relative movement of said pressing devices and the shoe to cause said pressing devices to wipe the inseam materials in directions inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom at the opposite sides simultaneously, and a presser of flexible metal slidably mounted on said pressing devices and arranged to engage the inseam materials around the toe end of the shoe, said toe-end presser being movable lengthwise of the shoe in wiping engagement with the inseam materials in response to pressure of the shoe upon it.

17. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of welt shoes after attachment of the welt but before the outsole is applied, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of heated pressing devices at the opposite sides of the shoe constructed and arranged to engage and press the shoe inseam materials along the sides of the forepart and shank portions of the shoe, said devices each having an inseam-engaging member flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, a common support for said pressing devices movable heightwise of the shoe to increase the pressure of said devices on the inseam materials, connections betweensaid support and the pressing devices for moving them toward each other to wipe the inseam materials in directions inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottom, a member of resilient metal slidably mounted on said side devices and arranged to engage and press the inseam ma terials around the toe end of the shoe, and means on said support for moving said last-named member relatively to the shoe in a direction to wipe the inseam materials inwardly at the toe end in response to the heightwise movement of said support.

18. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, pressing means arranged to engage the shoe at the opposite sides of the shoe bottom substantially from its toe to its heel-end portion, said pressing means comprising different members each flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, means for heating said members, and mechanism for moving said members inwardly in wiping engagement with the shoe bottom in response to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied.

19. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, pressing 10 means arranged to support a shoe placed initially thereon bottom downward by engagement with the shoe bottom along its opposite sides substantially from the toe-end portion to the heel-end portion of the shoe, said pressing means comprising different members of resilient metal flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe, means for increasing the pressure of said resilient members on the shoe, and mechanism for moving said resilient members inwardly in wiping engagement with the shoe bottom in response to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied.

20. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, pressing means arranged to engage the shoe at the opposite sides of the shoe bottom substantially from its toe to its heel-end portion, said pressing means comprising different members each flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, spring means for increasing the pressure of said members on the shoe and against the resistance of which they are thus conformable, and means for moving said members inwardly over the shoe bottom and for progressively increasing the pressure of said spring means on said members during their inward movement.

21. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of "shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, pressing means arranged to support a shoe placed initially thereon bottom downward by engagement with the shoe bottom along its opposite sides substantially from its toe to its heel-end portion and around an end of the shoe, said pressing means comprising different members of flexible resilient metal, a support for said flexible members movable heightwise of the shoe, and means yieldable in response to the heightwise movement of said 5 support for pressing said flexible resilient members into conformity to the contour of the shoe bottom.

22. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, pressing means arranged to support a shoe placed initially thereon bottom downward by engagement with the shoe bottom along its opposite sides substantially from its toe to its heel-end portion, said pressing means comprising members of flexible resilient metal, a support for said flexible members movable relatively to the shoe in a direction heightwise of the shoe, means yieldable in response to the relative movement of the support and the shoe for pressing the flexible members into conformity to the contour of the shoe, and other means yieldable thereafter in response to said relative movement for progressively increasing the pressure of said flexible members on the shoe through said last-named means.

23. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of

devices at the opposite sides of the shoe for applying pressure to the bottom of the shoe, said devices being movable inwardly toward each other in wiping contact with the shoe at the opposite sides of the shoe bottom respectively and each comprising a pressing member of flexible resil-- ient metal, a rigid holder for supporting said member, and spring means extending between said rigid holder and the pressing member and yieldable to permit said pressing member to conform to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon.

24. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of devices at the opposite sides of the shoe for applying pressure to the bottom of the shoe, said devices each comprising a pressing member of flexible resilient metal, a rigid holder for supporting said pressing member, spring means extending between said rigid holder and the pressing mem her and yieldable to permit said pressing member to conform to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, means for moving said pressing members inwardly toward each other.

in wiping contact with the shoe at the opposite sides of the shoe bottom, and means for heating said pressing members.

25. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of devices at the opposite sides of the shoe for applying pressure to the bottom of the shoe, said devices each comprising a rigid plate, a pressing member of flexible resilient metal mounted on said plate, spring means extending between said rigid plate and the pressing member and yieldable to permit said pressing member to conform to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, a common support for said rigid plates movable heightwise of the shoe to compress said spring means, and connections between said support and the rigid plates for moving them inwardly with the pressing members in wiping engagement with the shoe in response to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied.

26. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of devices at the opposite sides of the shoe for applying pressure to the bottom of the shoe, said devices each comprising a support, a pressing member of flexible resilient metal mounted on said support for movements in directions heightwise of the shoe, said pressing member being flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, spring means extending between said rigid plate and the pressing member and yieldable to permit said pressing member to conform to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, and mechanism for moving said supports inwardly over the shoe bottom with the pressing members in wiping engagement with the shoe, said mechanism being constructed to impart to said supports a movement heightwise of the shoe during the inward movements of the supports to increase the pressure of the pressing members on the shoe through said spring means.

27. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, pressing means arranged to engage the shoe at the opposite sides of the shoe bottom substantially from its toe to its heel-end portion and around an end of the shoe, said pressing means comprising side and end members each flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, a support for said side and end members movable heightwise of the shoe, parallel links for moving the side members inwardly in wiping engagement with the shoe in response to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied, and a bell-crank lever swingable in response to the heightwise movement of said support for moving the end member inwardly with the side members.

28. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, the combination with means for supporting a shoe against pressure applied on its bottom face, of devices at the opposite sides of the shoe for applying pressure to the bottom of the shoe, said devices each comprising a rigid plate, a pressing member of flexible resilient metal mounted on said plate, a plurality of light springs extending between said rigid plate and the pressing member and yieldable to permit said pressing member to conform to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, a common support for said rigid plates movable heightwise of the shoe, parallel links connecting said support and the rigid plates for moving them inwardly in response to pressure of the shoe on said pressing members, and heavy springs against the resistance of which said rigid plates are thus movable, said heavy springs being arranged to impart to said rigid plates during their inward movements the pressure of said pressing members on the shoe through said light springs.

29. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, pressing devices arranged to engage the shoe at the opposite sides of the shoe bottom substantially from its toe to its heel-end portion, said pressing devices each having a shoe-engaging member flexibly conformable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, mechanism for moving said shoe-pressing devices inwardly from the edge of the shoe bottomat the opposite sides simultaneously, a plate of flexible resilient metal for engaging the bottom of the shoe at the toe end, said plate being slidably mounted on said side devices and having an inner edge face shaped to conform substantially to the shape of the toe end of the shoe, and mechanism for moving the toe-end engaging plate inwardly in response to pressure of the shoe upon it.

30. In a machine'for pressing the bottoms of shoes of the type having insoles and outsoles before the outsoles are applied to the shoes, pressing devices arranged to engage the shoe at the opposite sides of the shoe bottom substantially from its toe to its heel-end portion, said devices a movement heightwise of the shoe to increase" each comprising a resilient plate flexibly con-'- formable to the contour of the shoe in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, said plates having slits therein to increase their flexibility in locations where the plates engage the shoe bottom rearwardly of the ball line, spring means for increasing the pressure of said plates on the shoe, and mechanism for moving said plates inwardly in wiping engagement with the shoe in response to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied.

ARTHUR F. PYM,

Executor of the Will of Charles F. Pym, Deceased. 

